The Devils Chapel by Rob Stephens – Episode 2 – SEE SAW Comics, Webcomics from the Sequential Artists Workshop

The Devils Chapel by Rob Stephens – Episode 2

The artist man is surrounded by overlapping, uncontained speech bubbles with text like, “Devoid of technical skill lacks subject matter I don’t think your work will find interest here. Derivative. Pedestrian. Wouldn’t call this contemporary. Wrong headed & poorly executed,” and other rejection letters and critiques that are cut off or illegible. We zoom in on the man as he is crying.

The man takes one of his drawings and rips the paper in half while tears stream down his face. The next panel is a place-holder that reads, “Typical dark alleyway - disreputable, dystopian, seedy. Details: trash, fire escapes, tires, stray cats, pests. Fire burns in metal trash can (see every movie about a city set in a dark future). If poetic, one could compare the fire can to a hell mouth… but poetry is for bull shit in the big city. Emmett throws torn up drawings into flames, teary eyed.”

The woman tilts her head and says, “Well, I’d like to see these paintings some time…” The man hesitates, “Um…they might suck. That’s what the experts…” She replies, “I have a feeling I would like them. I have…a taste for the…unconventional.” The bartender calls out, “V…we don’t need anymore trouble here.” She replies, “I don’t cause trouble, sweetheart - that’s old scratch’s deal… Just looking to have a chat with our talented friend here.” From off panel, the man says, “Talented? *blush*”

The bartender says, “V here knows talent when she see it. You should listen to her…” V agrees, “Absolutely. I can sense something special in you, kid. …But talent alone doesn’t guarantee success, you know.” A cigarette gives off smoke in an ash tray. The bartender poor a drink. V continues, “Many times just the opposite… But I am sure you know. I take it you’re one of those privileged coastal elites, right?” The man frowns, “What?!? Far from it. I mean I don’t even”

Now obscured by shadows, V says, “Then you’re a fool! Only trust fund babies should even try…” We zoom in on her red lipstick in a grimace and eyes stark white against the shadows. She continues, “It’s a rigged game! The only way to afford being an artist is to sell your SOUL…” She wraps her arms around the man’s shoulders, smiling. A devil’s shadow is cast behind her. He says, “What? That can’t be right.” She replies, “It’s the art world that isn’t right...”

From off panel, V says, “You’ve seen the people who have made it big. How do you think those chuckle heads did it? It’s kind of a thing now.” A man identified as Stan Lee is dressed in robes and stands atop a satanic rune drawn on the floor, surrounded by pentagrams, lit candles. He reads Latin from a book in his hand. V continues, “It’s not about what someone CAN do, it’s about what someone is WILLING to do. Just look at Jim Davis, or even Jack Kirby. All have secured their place in art history. The famous are WILLING to do things the normals are not.”

“Next time: At the Crossroads” The man closes his eyes speaking Latin surrounded by lit candles. A devil in a red suit and black tie says, “It’s just a standard boiler plate contract. Don’t be a baby about it. It’s only one daub of blood. Why all the self-sabotage? It’s an investment in your future… Manifest what you deserve like the rest of them California types.” The devil is ablaze behind the man, holding his head in his hands with long red nails. “And so…” A man in a suite and tie holds up the artist’s torn up drawing and says, “A rare early masterpiece entitled ‘Tippy.’” An auctioneer calls out, “We’ll start the bidding at 25 billion…” Someone raises their hand. A woman in expensive clothing says, “Exquisite! Deliciously transgressive.”

Published On: June 22, 2024

“B is Dying” next to chicken feet

"SAW Presents a Free Online Comics Workshop: Wild Wildlife with K. Woodman-Maynard, Friday July 12 7-8pm ET, All levels welcome"

ChickenScratch! Hummingbird Comic

Outdoor Big Chess Pieces

ChickenScratch! Dr. Who Comic

ChickenScratch! Cafe Humor

ChickenScratch Gilligans Island Comic

"SAW Free Online Workshop: Riffing Off Reality/ Join Sarah Firth for some joyful mind-expanding drawing exercises to explore the magic in the mundane! / Fri 5th July 7-8pm ET USA, Sat 6th July 9-10am AEST AUS" A cup of tea rushes to the aid of an unconscious Sarah by pouring tea into their mouth.

A violet dragon is surrounded by clouds in the sky, rendered in a traditional East Asian aesthetic.

“B is Dying” written in glyphs on a wall aside geometric shapes.

“I was now in the center of Wiesbaden, instead of their distant high-rise suburb.”

“The Secret © Michaela Pohl 2023” A poster reads “Schöne Zeiten Täter Gaffer Austellung” next to two bust statues, one with years 1920-2003, the other 1928-2008

"Exploring the Self as Bird with Robert James Russell, Sequential Artists Workshop" A four-panel comic of a bird saying, "Crap! No one's gonna take me seriously!" The bird puts on a cowboy hat and says, "There! Better! Who are you...as a bird? And why? Join me and find out! Yip! Fri 6/28 7pm! Free Zoom event! See ya there!"

In a minimalist, contour line, a naked woman leans over slightly, fixing her hair. Her face is scribbled out. Text reads, “Your husband says he’s leaving / you.”

The text "B is Dying floats in the ocean at sunset.

A young-adult angel with golden skin, blank white eyes without pupils or irises, a stark white afro hair-style, and white feather wings sits at a table looking at one of their feathers. They are wearing a blue and white toga-like tunic and gladiator sandals. They have an air of ennui about them.

CJ sits in a swivel chair, arms outstretched, and sings, “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens”

"Whatever Comes to Mind, Friday June 21st @ 7pm EDT, Free flow comic + drawing warmup exercise with Haleigh Buck! A free comics workshop from SAW!"

The words "B is Dying like you" float along with little bubbles and river grass under water. "-Hart 2018"

A man is surrounded by overlapping, uncontained speech bubbles with text like, “Devoid of technical skill lacks subject matter I don’t think your work will find interest here. Derivative. Pedestrian."

“Story of an Autumn Chicken by Jen Grisard Ludwig” A forest covered in autumn leaves, with the silhouette of an anthropomorphic chicken in the background.

"SAW & A.G. Moore Present: Instructions for Becoming! Comics as Spells, Recipes, & Equations, Fri June 14th 7pm Eastern on Zoom"

A cheery bear says, "Office, sweet office!" A pig cheers, "Yay!" They have arrived in front of a house carved out of a tree-topped hill.

“Couplet" A naked woman sits crouched on the ground, leaning forward so she is almost lying down. "We started as one"

"SAW Presents: Making an Empathy Comic with Andrew Kozlowski, Friday June 7th @ 7pm EST"

"B is Dying" written as branches of a tree

A young boy hugs the horns of a cow. He looks distressed.

"Friday Night Comics presents Georgia Webber: A Rant about Rectangles Friday May 31st 7pm on Zoom" Four Georgias are seen talking passionately or thinking deeply about rectangles

"Free online workshop: Icons Patterns and Textures with Fionn McCabe, Sequential Artists Workshop, Friday May 24 7pm EST"

"After Camp" A traced drawing of Adam as a boy standing with his Grandpa, whose hand rests on Adam's shoulder. Adam says, "Hi again, Grandpa."

"SAW Presents: Exploring Your Comfort Zone Using Comics with Dana Jeri Maier, Friday May 17 7pm ET 4pm PT" A map of a land mass divided in two by a dotted line and surrounded by water and sea monsters.

A hilly landscape with a black sky. Someone from off panel says, "Nelly?"

"SAW presents a virtual comics workshop: Your Celebrity Crush Is In Love With You, with Heather Loase, free and open to all, Friday May 10th, 7pm EST" The title of the workshop is in white block letters over a large red heart, surrounded by small red hearts decorating the graphic. Below the heart, one person is chasing another. The chasee says, "No Barry Keoghan, I will NOT be your date to the Oscars!" Barry Keoghan, holding a bouquet of roses, replies, "I beg ye' to reconsider darlin'"

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